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F'. West Hawaii Humane oci t �= P.O. Box 2695 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 • (808) 329-2051 • Fax: 329-6721 s November 5, 2001 To — Aaron Chung, Finance Committee Chairman & Committee f1mo —„7— qY-- From — Ginger Jowle, President, 'Vest Hawaii Humane Society Subject — N.A.C.A. Report on Hawaii Island Humane Society & Animal Control Contract First I want to stress that I feel that Hawaii Island Humane Society has caring board members who are as interested in animal welfare as I am, I also feel that they have not always known what has been happening in the shelters and with animal control. I feel we not only should but can work together in the future. This is a huge island and there is certainly enough work for two organizations. Working together we can accomplish great things. It is understandable that the 'lest Hawaii community would be unhappy with the lack of animal control etc. It is also a fact that an executive director, regardless of good intentions, would not have a clue as to the problems involved in animal control without police background or past humane society experience. With an animal control senior officer with 20 years experience they should not have had the problems the have had. West Hawaii Humane Society has been given property by Kelly Greenwell. We will be building a shelter to house animal control animals, an education building for use by the community and a limited access no kill shelter. This is a community project; we don't expect the County to furnish everything. Retired Police Major dank Silva and Captain Dale Fergerstrorn said they will help with training animal control officers. Eric Sakach from Humane Society of the United States is an advisor as well as Dr. John IJelfrage, the U.S. Governments Western Regional Veterinarian Services officer, a former Kona veterinarian, past West Hawaii Humane Society president and he also was the #2 man in the State Ag. Dept. He just returned from England consulting on the Mad Cow disease. The N.A.C.A. report was very clear on Hawaii Island Humane Societies problems. Their report has validated many of the problems I have brought up on more than one occasion. The Police Department should be in charge of the contract and supervise the animal control program, only to the extent that they assist, if necessary in training, respond in dangerous cases and answer emergency or after hour calls when an animal control officer isnt available or until he can get there. However, the responsibility for animal control should be the humane society responsibility, including keeping all the records. Explicit directions should be spelled out in the new contract. comm, File NM 4 .€t